These ‘heartbreaking’ figures show an increase on those recorded in 2015/16, when 4,695 reported hate crimes against children and teenagers were registered.

The NSPCC, which obtained the data through Freedom of Information requests, said its Childline service carried out 2,699 counselling sessions with young people about racist or faith-based bullying between 2014/15 and 2016/17.

Chief executive, Peter Wanless, said: ‘It’s heartbreaking to think that some children are targeted by bullies because of their race, culture or nationality.

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‘Racist jokes and negative stereotyping can be hurtful and leave young people feeling isolated and ashamed of who they are or where they are from.’

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Some young people contacting Childline described how the abuse and negative stereotyping directed at them was so cruel they had self-harmed.